Queen Elizabeth stuns bride and groom by accepting invite

Queen Elizabeth II smiles during her visit to the Manchester Central convention centre on March 23, 2012.

Story highlights

Queen Elizabeth unexpectedly drops in on a wedding while she's in Manchester

She was invited but the bride and groom didn't really think she would come

The bride calls the queen's presence "a wedding gift"

John and Frances Canning didn't really expect Queen Elizabeth to come to their wedding, but when they learned she was going to be in Manchester, England, on the day of their nuptials, they sent an invitation on a whim.

She showed up.

Despite their shock, the groom had the presence of mind to bow, and the bride to curtsey as the monarch appeared and congratulated them, amateur video of the event showed.